Method and system for dynamic channel assignment

Abstract

A method and system for mobile communication, in which method a channel is allocated for a connection having a certain quality of service between a mobile station and a base station in a network whose time-slots are synchronized with each other. The system collects interference information ( 202 to 204 ) from connections already in use, information on the traffic load of the network ( 205 ), defines a level value ( 206 ) for information to be communicated, forms a parameter value ( 201 ) for the channel of the cell and allocates the channel ( 200, 201 ).

1. A method, comprising:
 defining a connection quality level value range for information to be communicated in a cell of a communication network, wherein at least one base station defines the cell, mobile stations of the communication network are in an area of the cell, and the mobile stations communicate with the base station on channels 
 forming a connection quality parameter value for each of a plurality of channels of the cell; and 
 allocating, for said information to be communicated in the cell, a channel of the cell whose connection quality parameter value lies within said connection quality level value range, 
 wherein said allocating said channel comprises changing an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then allocating said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming said connection quality level value range from a first level value and a second level value that are fixed and predefined. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming said connection quality level value range from a first level value and a second level value that are dynamically changeable. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 defining said connection quality level value range and said connection quality parameter value as a signal-to-interference level range and a signal-to-interference level, respectively. 
 
     
     
       5. A system, comprising:
 a first collection unit configured to collect interference information from channels already in use in a cell of a communications network that includes at least one base station that defines the cell as well as mobile stations in an area of said cell, wherein the mobile stations are configured to communicate with said base station on the channels, and wherein the first collection unit is also configured to collect interference information in at least one neighboring cell; 
 a second collection unit configured to collect information on traffic load of said cell; 
 a definition unit configured to define a connection quality level value range for information to be communicated in the cell; 
 a forming unit configured to form a connection quality parameter value for each of a plurality of channels of the cell based on the collected interference information and traffic load; and 
 an allocation unit configured to allocate, for said information to be communicated, a channel of the cell whose connection quality parameter value lies within said connection quality level value range, 
 wherein said allocation unit also comprises a selection unit that is configured to change an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then to allocate said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       6. An apparatus, comprising:
 a first collection unit configured to collect interference information from channels already in use in the cell of the communications network that includes at least one base station that defines the cell as well as mobile stations in an area of said cell, wherein the mobile stations are configured to communicate with said base station on the channels, and wherein the first collection unit is also configured to collect interference information in at least one neighboring cell; 
 a second collection unit configured to collect information on a traffic load of said cell; 
 a definition unit configured to define a connection quality level value range for information to be communicated in the cell; 
 a forming unit configured to form a connection quality parameter value for each of a plurality of channels of the cell based on the collected interference information and traffic load; and 
 an allocation unit configured to allocate, for said information to be communicated, a channel of the cell whose connection quality parameter value lies within said connection quality level value range, 
 wherein said allocation unit also comprises a selection unit that is configured to change an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then to allocate said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is a base station controller. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor in communication with a memory; 
 an interference information collector in communication with the processor; 
 a traffic load information collector in communication with the processor; 
 a connection quality level value range determination module in communication with the processor; 
 a connection quality parameter value formation module in communication with the processor; and 
 a channel allocation module in communication with the processor and configured to allocate a channel in a communications network that includes at least one base that defines a cell and mobile stations in an area of said cell, the channel of the cell having a connection quality parameter value that lies within a connection quality level value range determined by the connection quality level value range determination module, wherein the mobile stations are configured to communicate with said base station on channels, 
 wherein said channel allocation module also comprises a selection module that is configured to change an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then to allocate said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a base station controller. 
 
     
     
       10. A system, comprising:
 a processor in communication with a memory; 
 an interference information collector in communication with the processor; 
 a traffic load information collector in communication with the processor; 
 a connection quality level value range determination module in communication with the processor; 
 a connection quality parameter value formation module in communication with the processor; and 
 a channel allocation module in communication with the processor and configured to allocate a channel in a communications network comprising at least one base station that defines a cell and mobile stations in an area of said cell, the channel of the cell having a connection quality parameter value that lies within a connection quality level value range determined by the connection quality level value range determination module, the mobile stations being configured to communicate with said base station on channels, 
 wherein said channel allocation module also comprises a selection module that is configured to change an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then to allocate said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus, configured to:
 collect interference information from channels already in use in a cell of a communications network comprising at least one base station that defines the cell and mobile stations in an area of said cell, wherein the mobile stations are configured to communicate with said base station on radio channels; 
 collect interference information in at least one neighboring cell; 
 collect information on a traffic load of said cell; 
 define a connection quality level value range for information to be communicated in the cell; 
 form a connection quality parameter value for each of a plurality of channels of the cell based on the interference information and the information on the traffic load; and 
 allocate, for the information to be communicated, a channel of the cell whose connection quality parameter value lies within said connection quality level value range, 
 wherein said allocating said channel comprises changing an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then allocating said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a base station controller. 
 
     
     
       14. A system, configured to:
 collect interference information from channels already in use in a cell of a communications network comprising at least one base station that defines the cell and mobile stations in an area of said cell, wherein the mobile stations are configured to communicate with said base station on radio channels; 
 collect interference information in at least one neighboring cell; 
 collect information on traffic load of said cell; 
 define a connection quality level value range for information to be communicated in the cell; 
 form a connection quality parameter value for each of a plurality of channels of the cell based on the interference information and the information on the traffic load; and 
 allocate, for the information to be communicated, a channel of the cell whose connection quality parameter value lies within said connection quality level value range, 
 wherein said allocating said channel comprises changing an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then allocating said first channel for said information to be communicated. 
 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 first collection means for collecting interference information from channels already in use in a cell of a communications network that includes at least one base station that defines the cell as well as mobile stations in an area of said cell, wherein the mobile stations are configured to communicate with said base station on the channels, and wherein the first collection means is also for collecting interference information in at least one neighboring cell; 
 second collection means for collecting information on a traffic load of said cell; 
 definition means for defining a connection quality level value range for information to be communicated in the cell; 
 forming means for forming a connection quality parameter value for each channel of a plurality of channels of the cell based on the collected interference information and traffic load; and 
 allocation means for allocating said information a channel of the cell whose connection quality parameter value lies within said connection quality level value range, 
 wherein said allocation means also comprises selection means for changing an existing communication connection from a first channel of the cell to a second channel of the cell and then allocating said first channel for said information to be communicated.